Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser Badge – Schwerin

Product Description: This is a very nice Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser Badge by Schwerin. It’s a later example, made of two pieces of die struck zinc. These parts are held together by a single rivet that is visible on the reverse of the badge. All of the original gold wash has evaporated from the wreath, as is typical with these zinc based badges. The separately attached globe, on the other hand, still retains its original finish, as well as its factory applied protective lacquer. The obverse of this badge shows only light wear, with crisp details. The reverse of this Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser Badge is flat and smooth, and is maker marked “Schwerin Berlin” in raised letters. The hardware is textbook Schwerin, with a block hinge, sheet metal catch with plate, and banjo pin. The hardware is functional and unrepaired, and due to the higher quality brass base metal, still retains the original gold wash. This badge displays handsomely, and remains in a strong excellent plus condition.

Historical Description: The WWII German naval campaign against Allied shipping was not waged only with naval vessels. Eleven merchant ships were also specially equipped by the German Navy with a variety of anti-ship weapons. These armed ships, disguised as peaceful merchant vessels, patrolled shipping lanes. To recognize the bravery of the crews of these vessels, the German Navy commander Grossadmiral Erich Raeder introduced a special award, “Kriegsabzeichen für Hilfskreuzer” (Auxiliary Cruiser War Badge), on April 24, 1941. The badge was designed by Ernst Peekhaus and featured a Viking ship sailing on a northern hemisphere, surrounded by a wreath, and surmounted by a German national eagle and swastika emblem. They were made in silver, Tombak, and zinc. The entire badge was gilt with the exception of the globe, which had a gray finish. The globe could be integral to the badge, or could be a separate piece, affixed with a single rivet. The badge was awarded to the crews of ships that completed successful long-range voyages. It could also be awarded for exceptional leadership on a voyage and was automatically awarded to any sailors wounded in action on such a vessel. Because there were not many of these disguised merchant vessels, the Auxiliary Cruiser Badge was made in limited numbers.

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